The revelation that other Jews may carry out further attacks against Palestinians led to Shin Bet investigators being given permission to use harsher methods of investigation, including physical pressure.

The Shin Bet interrogations division received a permit ten days ago to use ‘ticking bomb’ investigative techniques on Jewish terrorists, which include using physical pressure, a security source revealed Thursday.

This is due to the fact that during the interrogation of detainees over the last month in the Dawabsheh family murders, it became clear that their partners in crime, who are not in prison, are about to carry out other attacks.

In previous petitions by human rights groups claiming that Shin Bet interrogators tortured Palestinians, it was argued that the ‘ticking bomb’ procedure includes sleep deprivation, lack of light, deafening music and ‘shaking’. The ‘ticking bomb’ procedure allows the use of extreme interrogation methods only if the goal is preventing attacks that have already underway.

RIght-wing activists carrying photo of murdered Dawabsheh baby
Right-wing activists carrying photo of murdered Dawabsheh baby

 

Since 1999, when the use of torture in Israel was abolished following a High Court ruling, it was decided that it was permissible to use ‘shakings’ in an investigation, including moderate physical pressure means, only in cases which the Shin Bet defines as ‘ticking bombs’. In this case a Shin Bet investigator, in consultation with his department head and head of the Shin Bet, can utilize special and physical interrogation methods. This will then be reported to the Attorney General to give the ‘shakers’ immunity and exemption from prosecution.

As part of the fight for its image amid allegations of torture used against suspects in the arson in Duma, the Shin Bet said Thursday that Jewish terror suspects have committed serious attacks “out of a radical and anti-Zionist ideology.”

According to a statement issued by the agency, the Shin Bet intends to bring this group of suspects, which believes the State of Israel has no right to exist, to justice.

“Their main objective is to overthrow the government in Israel, while using violent measures to the point of murdering Palestinians, launching a rebellion in order to appoint a king, undermining Israel’s ties with other countries, expelling the Gentiles and hurting minorities,” the Shin Bet said.

The Duma home of the Dawabsheh family after it was set ablaze (Photo: AP)
The Duma home of the Dawabsheh family after it was set ablaze (Photo: AP)

 

Shin Bet officials said that the smear campaign against the agency and its personnel has continued over the past few days.

In a response to the accusations raised against the agency, the Shin Bet sought to clarify: “The Jewish terror organization, whose members are being interrogated now, is behind serious terror attacks. The members of this organization kept committing attacks even after the arson in Duma and viewed it as an attack worthy of imitation.”

The objective of the Shin Bet investigation is to expose the Jewish terror organization and thwart future attacks. The agency insists the investigation is done according to the acceptable legal and professional standards for such investigations. “During the interrogations, measures suitable for this objective were used,” the Shin Bet said.

Two of the suspects arrested in connection with the attack, and graffiti declaring 'revenge' found at the Duma home (Photo: Rabbis for Human Rights)
Two of the suspects arrested in connection with the attack, and graffiti declaring ‘revenge’ found at the Duma home (Photo: Rabbis for Human Rights)

 

The Shin Bet’s statement further said that “During court hearings, claims were raised according to which the suspects were sexually harassed during interrogation, that there was harm done to their genitals, that there was use of a ‘sodomy bed,’ kicking, spitting and electrocution, and that one of the suspects even tried to harm himself. The Israel Security Agency would like to clarify that these claims are false and completely disconnected from reality.”

A video that aired on Channel 10 showed guests at a wedding of a young right-wing couple dancing with guns, knives and Molotov cocktails, with one of the guests making mockery of the death of baby Ali Dawabsheh, who died in an arson attack on his home in Duma, by repeatedly stabbing the infant’s picture.

Attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir, who represents one of the Jewish suspects held in connection with the Duma arson, accused the Shin Bet on Thursday of “diverting the discussion from the torture to the video, talking about it as if that was the most important thing.”

As reported by Ynetnews